Reconnaissance Parasite Aircraft - 1952, Part 1

Project FICON (Fighter conveyer): In the early 1950s, the Air Force conducted a series of experiments to establish the feasibility of carrying, launching, and retrieving jet reconnaissance airplanes from giant Convair RB-36 bombers. It was hoped that the bombers would carry the reconnaissance jets to the perimeter of the Soviet Union and then release them to penetrate the air defenses. Tests of the concept were conducted in 1952 with a Republic F-84E Thunderjet. Look for the 8-jet YB-60 prototype at 6:55. This video is available on DVD at www.Air-and-Space.com.